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Big Horn Basin Mines: 59 MSHA citations Metal/Non-Metal

Wyo-Ben, Inc · Surface
Controlled by David Brown
Greybull, Big Horn County, WY  ·  Active
MSHA Mine ID: 4800974

Big Horn Basin Mines has $17K in proposed MSHA penalties and $0 outstanding across 3 contested dockets, plus health sampling and the full incident record.

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Fatalities
0
Total incidents
20
Years on record
1986–2021
Latest incident
Nov 2021
Compliance record
MSHA citations since 2000
59
citations
13
significant & substantial
$16,634
proposed penalties
$15,600
paid to date
94% of proposed penalties paid to date, a $1,034 gap.
Source: MSHA violations data, updated weekly.
See Wyo-Ben, Inc's full MSHA compliance history →
Inspection activity
MSHA inspections since 2000
68
inspections on record
1,329
inspection hours
4.4
citations per 100 inspection hours
ⓘ This rate is recorded citations divided by MSHA inspection hours, per 100 hours. It reflects inspection effort, not mine size or production.
59 citations across 1,329 inspection hours.
Source: MSHA inspections data, updated weekly.

Big Horn Basin Mines has $17K in proposed MSHA penalties and $0 outstanding across 3 contested dockets.

Penalty disposition
ⓘ Differences between proposed and paid penalties reflect both settlements and conference reductions and amounts still owed. Outstanding is the balance currently owed.
$17K
proposed penalties
$16K
current assessed
$16K
paid to date
$0
outstanding
58 assessments are final orders; 3 contested dockets.
Of $5K in penalties contested before the Commission, $4K was upheld in final decisions.
As of the most recent assessment on 2025-12-03.
Source: MSHA assessed-violations and conference/litigation data, updated weekly.
Violation severity profile
ⓘ Shares are computed over citations that carry the MSHA gravity and negligence coding; a small share of records are uncoded.
22.4%
significant & substantial
10.3%
high negligence or reckless
22.4%
reasonably likely or greater
58.6%
permanently disabling or fatal if injury occurs
Negligence coding: 0.0% none, 17.2% low, 72.4% moderate, 10.3% high, 0.0% reckless.
Source: MSHA violations gravity and negligence coding, updated weekly.
When citations were contested
ⓘ Contesting a citation before the Federal Mine Safety and Health Review Commission is a lawful right. These figures state the public outcomes of that process, from MSHA's Contested Violations file.
8 citations taken to the federal commission · 14% of citations on record
  • Settled 8 · 100%
67%
S&S designation survived the contest
ⓘ Counts a Significant & Substantial citation as surviving when a settlement or judge's decision kept the designation, or the contest was dismissed or defaulted so the citation stands as issued. Vacated and withdrawn citations, and settlements that removed the designation, count against.
of 3 decided S&S contests · industry: 79%
21%
Penalty reduction in decided contests
$5K proposed, $4K after decisions · industry: 39%
Source: MSHA Contested Violations file (public record), updated weekly. A dismissed or defaulted contest leaves the citation standing as issued; a vacated or withdrawn citation is removed from the violation record. Latest contest filed 2011-04-12.
Contested penalties
ⓘ A reduction or dismissal at the Commission is a lawful outcome of contesting a proposed penalty. Figures are the proposed amount and the amount upheld in the docket's decision.
Largest penalties this mine contested before the Federal Mine Safety and Health Review Commission, with the outcome on record.
Docket Decision Judge Year Proposed / upheld
WEST 2007-531M Settlement Lesnick 2007 $3K → $2K
WEST 2010-1046M Settlement Lesnick 2010 $2K → $2K
WEST 2010-1722M Settlement Miller 2011 $150 → $100
Source: FMSHRC civil penalty dockets and decisions (public record), updated weekly.
Health sampling
ⓘ A sample is a point in time compliance measurement, not an individual exposure history. These figures describe MSHA sampling records and do not establish causation or personal dose.

Metal and nonmetal contaminants (personal samples)
ⓘ Many samples are screening measurements of substances with no applicable exposure limit; they are counted as samples but excluded from every over-limit figure. Over-limit shares use only limit-tested samples.

Last sampled: 2024-03-06
0%
of limit-tested samples over the exposure limit
14
samples
2
limit-tested
Most sampled contaminants
  • Respirable dust, <.1mg8
  • Quartz, respirable, >1% Qtz3
  • Unlisted Particulate, respirable, <1% Qtz3
Show the individual readings (14)
Date Contaminant Concentration Limit Conc / limit Occupation
2024-03-06 Respirable dust, <.1mg 0 Truck Driver
2024-03-06 Respirable dust, <.1mg 0 Backhoe Operator
2023-03-09 Quartz, respirable, >1% Qtz 0.17 0.48 0.35 Drill Operator, Rotary
2023-03-09 Respirable dust, <.1mg 0 Drill Operator, Rotary
2023-03-09 Quartz, respirable, >1% Qtz 0.27 1.12 0.24 Lab Technician
2023-03-09 Quartz, respirable, >1% Qtz 0.19 Lab Technician
2021-01-14 Unlisted Particulate, respirable, <1% Qtz 0.34 Scraper Operator
2021-01-14 Respirable dust, <.1mg 0 Bulldozer Operator
2021-01-14 Unlisted Particulate, respirable, <1% Qtz 0.15 Scraper Operator
2017-10-18 Unlisted Particulate, respirable, <1% Qtz 0.15 Truck Driver
2016-06-29 Respirable dust, <.1mg 0 Scraper Operator
2016-06-29 Respirable dust, <.1mg 0 Scraper Operator
2013-03-19 Respirable dust, <.1mg 0 Bulldozer Operator
2006-05-04 Respirable dust, <.1mg 0 Drill Helper
Source: MSHA respirable dust, quartz, and noise sampling records, updated weekly. Metal/nonmetal contaminant figures come from MSHA's Personal Health Samples and Area Samples files (public record), updated weekly.

Big Horn Basin Mines recorded 0.00 reportable injury cases per 100 full-time workers in 2025.

Injury rate, 2025
ⓘ This rate is reportable injury cases per 100 full-time-equivalent workers per year, computed as 200,000 times cases divided by MSHA operator-reported employee-hours. Cases are injuries MSHA graded degree 01 through 07; accident-only events that hurt no one are excluded, and so are contractor injuries, whose hours do not attach to a single mine. Rates begin in 2000, when quarterly employment reporting starts, and are withheld below 20,000 hours in a year.
0.00
total case rate
0.00
days-away rate
0.000
fatality rate
Below average. The US metal and nonmetal mining average was 1.65 and the all-US-mining average was 1.97 cases per 100 workers.
In Wyoming, metal and nonmetal mining averaged 1.96 cases per 100 workers that year.
Under 100,000 employee-hours were reported that year, so a single case moves the rate by two or more. Read the figure as approximate.
Year total case rate days-away fatal
2025 * 0.00 0.00 0.000
2024 * 0.00 0.00 0.000
2023 * 0.00 0.00 0.000
2019 * 0.00 0.00 0.000
2018 * 0.00 0.00 0.000
2017 * 0.00 0.00 0.000
2015 * 0.00 0.00 0.000
2014 * 13.78 0.00 0.000
* Fewer than 100,000 employee-hours that year; the rate is less stable.
Source: injury cases from MSHA accident and injury records; employee-hours from MSHA quarterly employment reports. Rate is cases per 100 full-time-equivalent workers, operator employees only.
Ownership history
  1. Wyo-Ben, Inc 1950 to present
Source: MSHA controller and operator history, updated weekly.
Workforce and production
Year Employees
2026 14
2025 12
2024 12
2023 11
2022 11
2021 10
2020 11
2019 11
2018 11
2017 11
2016 10
2015 14
2014 15
2013 15
2012 15
2011 11
2010 10
2009 9
2008 9
2007 9
2006 8
2005 7
2004 8
2003 8
2002 10
2001 11
2000 11
Source: MSHA quarterly employment and production, updated weekly.

Big Horn Basin Mines sits in Big Horn County, Wyoming, where the Census mining category is 6.4% of county employment.

Local economic context
ⓘ County figures come from the US Census Bureau's American Community Survey, 5-year pooled estimates, so the 2023 vintage covers 2019 through 2023. The Census category is 'mining, quarrying, and oil and gas extraction', which is broader than MSHA jurisdiction and includes oil and gas workers no mine employs. These figures describe the surrounding county, not this mine, and are not a factor in any specific incident.
Big Horn County, Wyoming · Population 11,737
6.4%
Mining share of county employment
$60,547
Median household income
Source: US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2023 5-year estimates.
Quarterly safety rates
ⓘ Citations per million reported employee-hours. Rates begin in 2000, when MSHA's quarterly employment data starts; earlier incidents are counted but cannot be rate-adjusted. Quarters under 100,000 reported hours are greyed: too few hours for a stable rate.
Citations per million employee-hours, as reported to MSHA
Quarter Hours worked Citations S&S Per 1M hrs
2026 Q2 6,481 0 0 0.0
2026 Q1 6,612 0 0 0.0
2025 Q4 5,306 0 0 0.0
2025 Q3 5,225 0 0 0.0
2025 Q2 5,414 0 0 0.0
2025 Q1 5,745 0 0 0.0
2024 Q4 5,570 0 0 0.0
2024 Q3 5,835 0 0 0.0
Show 98 earlier quarters
Quarter Hours worked Citations S&S Per 1M hrs
2024 Q2 5,701 0 0 0.0
2024 Q1 5,006 1 0 199.8
2023 Q4 5,298 0 0 0.0
2023 Q3 5,195 0 0 0.0
2023 Q2 5,186 0 0 0.0
2023 Q1 5,436 0 0 0.0
2022 Q4 4,705 0 0 0.0
2022 Q3 5,405 0 0 0.0
2022 Q2 5,020 0 0 0.0
2022 Q1 4,494 1 1 222.5
2021 Q4 3,924 0 0 0.0
2021 Q3 4,516 0 0 0.0
2021 Q2 4,739 0 0 0.0
2021 Q1 4,957 0 0 0.0
2020 Q4 4,456 0 0 0.0
2020 Q3 4,698 0 0 0.0
2020 Q2 4,991 0 0 0.0
2020 Q1 5,693 0 0 0.0
2019 Q4 5,029 0 0 0.0
2019 Q3 4,940 0 0 0.0
2019 Q2 5,070 0 0 0.0
2019 Q1 5,660 0 0 0.0
2018 Q4 5,207 0 0 0.0
2018 Q3 5,004 0 0 0.0
2018 Q2 5,495 0 0 0.0
2018 Q1 5,861 0 0 0.0
2017 Q4 5,121 1 0 195.3
2017 Q3 5,547 0 0 0.0
2017 Q2 5,076 0 0 0.0
2017 Q1 4,499 0 0 0.0
2016 Q4 4,078 0 0 0.0
2016 Q3 4,174 0 0 0.0
2016 Q2 4,305 0 0 0.0
2016 Q1 4,846 0 0 0.0
2015 Q4 5,497 0 0 0.0
2015 Q3 5,693 0 0 0.0
2015 Q2 6,869 0 0 0.0
2015 Q1 7,430 0 0 0.0
2014 Q4 7,245 0 0 0.0
2014 Q3 7,388 0 0 0.0
2014 Q2 7,229 0 0 0.0
2014 Q1 7,164 2 1 279.2
2013 Q4 6,854 0 0 0.0
2013 Q3 8,499 2 0 235.3
2013 Q2 9,658 0 0 0.0
2013 Q1 7,489 0 0 0.0
2012 Q4 6,757 0 0 0.0
2012 Q3 7,657 0 0 0.0
2012 Q2 7,826 0 0 0.0
2012 Q1 8,117 0 0 0.0
2011 Q4 6,008 0 0 0.0
2011 Q3 5,891 1 0 169.8
2011 Q2 5,166 0 0 0.0
2011 Q1 5,172 0 0 0.0
2010 Q4 4,801 0 0 0.0
2010 Q3 5,359 0 0 0.0
2010 Q2 4,772 1 1 209.6
2010 Q1 4,266 0 0 0.0
2009 Q4 3,903 0 0 0.0
2009 Q3 3,701 0 0 0.0
2009 Q2 3,776 0 0 0.0
2009 Q1 4,594 0 0 0.0
2008 Q4 4,109 0 0 0.0
2008 Q3 4,224 0 0 0.0
2008 Q2 4,315 0 0 0.0
2008 Q1 3,834 1 0 260.8
2007 Q4 3,979 0 0 0.0
2007 Q3 4,538 0 0 0.0
2007 Q2 4,424 0 0 0.0
2007 Q1 3,934 1 1 254.2
2006 Q4 3,922 0 0 0.0
2006 Q3 4,520 0 0 0.0
2006 Q2 4,152 0 0 0.0
2006 Q1 3,656 0 0 0.0
2005 Q4 3,250 0 0 0.0
2005 Q3 3,452 0 0 0.0
2005 Q2 3,354 0 0 0.0
2005 Q1 3,634 0 0 0.0
2004 Q4 3,581 0 0 0.0
2004 Q3 4,148 0 0 0.0
2004 Q2 3,917 0 0 0.0
2004 Q1 3,511 0 0 0.0
2003 Q4 3,252 0 0 0.0
2003 Q3 4,700 1 0 212.8
2003 Q2 4,082 0 0 0.0
2003 Q1 4,210 0 0 0.0
2002 Q4 3,923 0 0 0.0
2002 Q3 5,037 0 0 0.0
2002 Q2 5,027 0 0 0.0
2002 Q1 4,979 0 0 0.0
2001 Q4 4,937 0 0 0.0
2001 Q3 5,361 0 0 0.0
2001 Q2 5,298 0 0 0.0
2001 Q1 5,242 0 0 0.0
2000 Q4 5,220 0 0 0.0
2000 Q3 5,084 0 0 0.0
2000 Q2 5,141 0 0 0.0
2000 Q1 5,139 0 0 0.0
No fatalities recorded at this mine.

Reportable incidents

20 on file

2021 · 1 incident

November 30, 2021 WY · Metal/Non-Metal master mechanic, foreman, supervisor HANDTOOLS (NONPOWERED)
Wyo-Ben, Inc · Struck by flying object

Employee was pounding in posts and the post pounder struck the employee on top of the head causing a laceration. Medical treatment for the laceration was one stitch and one staple.

2014 · 2 incidents

October 23, 2014 WY · Metal/Non-Metal drill helper HANDLING OF MATERIALS
Wyo-Ben, Inc · Caught in, under or between a moving and a stationary object

EE was arranging augers on the drill truck when EE caught their thumb between two auger. This resulted in the thumb needing stitches to re-attach the nail. There is also a fracture on the tip of the thumb that will require follow up examinations and further treatment.

February 26, 2014 WY · Metal/Non-Metal drill helper MACHINERY
Wyo-Ben, Inc · Caught in, under or between a moving and a stationary object

EE caught safety vest in spinning drill auger and was entangled in auger. EE received bruising to ribs and right bicep.

2011 · 2 incidents

August 26, 2011 WY · Metal/Non-Metal FIRE
Wyo-Ben, Inc · Accident type, without injuries

Contractor's scraper had a hydraulic hose failure causing fluid to spray onto a turbo. The hydraulic fluid ignited causing the front end of a scraper to burn.

August 26, 2011 WY · Metal/Non-Metal FIRE
Wyo-Ben, Inc · Accident type, without injuries

Operating a 637E scraper when a main hydraulic hose broke causing a fire to ignite. The flames from the fire forced the operator to abruptly exit the machine. The machine was left running upon exit causing more hydraulic oil to fuel the fire. Damage estimate is a total loss.

2007 · 2 incidents

December 19, 2007 WY · Metal/Non-Metal drill helper MACHINERY
Wyo-Ben, Inc · Caught in, under or between (Not Elsewhere Classified)

Employee stumbled and fell into the turning drill auger, catching his shirt sleeve in the auger and dislocating his right elbow.

January 3, 2007 WY · Metal/Non-Metal drill operator MACHINERY
Wyo-Ben, Inc · Caught in, under or between running or meshing objects

Employees sweatshirt strings became entangled in the drill auger. Employee was spun around the auger 3 times before the assistant was able to shut the auger down. Employee has 5 broken ribs on the right side. Fractured right shoulder. Lacerated Liver. Fractured vertabrae #8 thoracic. Employee is in ICU at Deaconess Hospital in Billings, MT.

2004 · 1 incident

July 19, 2004 WY · Metal/Non-Metal drill helper MACHINERY
Wyo-Ben, Inc · Struck by falling object

EMPLOYEE WAS DRILLING CLAY WHEN AN AUGER FELL OUT OF THE STORAGE RACK AND STRUCK THE EE ON THE HEAD, DAMAGING THE HARD HAT & CAUSING A LACERATION ON THE EE'S HEAD.

2002 · 1 incident

February 18, 2002 WY · Metal/Non-Metal drill helper SLIP OR FALL OF PERSON
Wyo-Ben, Inc · Over-exertion (Not Elsewhere Classified)

EE STEPPED IN A DITCH AND HIS LT. KNEE TWISTED. (INCIDENT OCCURRED ON 2-18-02, IT DID NOT BECOMEREPORTABLE UNTIL 5-17-02, WHEN EE HAD SURGERY.)

2000 · 1 incident

February 22, 2000 WY · Metal/Non-Metal mine manager, mine foreman, mine owner SLIP OR FALL OF PERSON
Wyo-Ben, Inc · Fall from machine

EE SLIPPED AND FELL WHILE GETTING OUT OF HIS PICK-UP TO RE-FUEL. HE LANDED ON HIS LEFT HAND AND SPRAINED HIS WRIST.

1998 · 1 incident

February 2, 1998 WY · Metal/Non-Metal roof bolter, rock bolter, pinner, mobile roof support operator (mrs) SLIP OR FALL OF PERSON
Wyo-Ben, Inc · Over-exertion (Not Elsewhere Classified)

SLIPPED AND FELL WHILE SURVEYING PARTIALLY FROZEN BENTONITE STOCK PILE.

1995 · 1 incident

July 26, 1995 WY · Metal/Non-Metal laborer, blacksmith, bull gang, parts runner, roustabout, pick-up man, pitman POWERED HAULAGE
Wyo-Ben, Inc · Struck against a moving object

EMPLOYEE WAS OPERATING A BOBCAT ON UNEVEN ROUGH GROUND WHEN HE EXPERIENCED BACK PAIN.

1994 · 4 incidents

July 8, 1994 WY · Metal/Non-Metal electrician, lineman SLIP OR FALL OF PERSON
Wyo-Ben, Inc · Fall to lower level, (Not Elsewhere Classified)

EE WAS STADNING ON A FIVE FOOT CULVERT AND STEPPED BACK TO GET OUT OF THE WAY OF THE BACKHOE BUCKET AND FELL. THE INJURY BECAME APPARENT ON AUGUST 3, 1994.

May 3, 1994 WY · Metal/Non-Metal drill operator SLIP OR FALL OF PERSON
Wyo-Ben, Inc · Struck against stationary object

EMPLOYEE STEPPED OUT OF THE TRUCK ONTO A ROCK INJURING HIS LEFT FOOT.

April 27, 1994 WY · Metal/Non-Metal drill operator HANDLING OF MATERIALS
Wyo-Ben, Inc · Over-exertion (Not Elsewhere Classified)

EMPLOYEE WAS SHUTTING THE TRUCK DOOR WHEN HIS NECK WENT OUT OF PLACE

March 14, 1994 WY · Metal/Non-Metal haul/off road/coal/ore/pit/quarry/rock/rubber tire truck driver, transportation truck driver POWERED HAULAGE
Wyo-Ben, Inc · Struck against a moving object

WATERING HAUL ROAD WENT AROUND 110 CORNER TO FAST HAD 1/2 LOAD OF WATER IN TANKER GOING AROUND CORNER WATER SHIFTED UP RIGHT SIDE OF TRAILER CAUSING THE TRUCK AND TRAILER TO PULL OVER ONTO ITS SIDE.

1993 · 1 incident

January 22, 1993 WY · Metal/Non-Metal draftsman, surveyor/transit work supervisor HANDLING OF MATERIALS
Wyo-Ben, Inc · Over-exertion in lifting objects

EMPLOYE EWAS LIFTING DRILL STEMS AND TWISTED HIS BACK.

1991 · 2 incidents

November 23, 1991 WY · Metal/Non-Metal rock driller HANDLING OF MATERIALS
Wyo-Ben, Inc · Caught in, under or between a moving and a stationary object

I.NAME OFF DUTY.HAD GONE TO WELDING SHOP TO PICK UP AUGER FOR WORK THE FOLLOWING MONDAY.LOADING THE AUGER,SMASHED LEFT THUMB.

March 4, 1991 WY · Metal/Non-Metal draftsman, surveyor/transit work supervisor HANDLING OF MATERIALS
Wyo-Ben, Inc · Over-exertion in wielding or throwing objects

AFTER CHANGING A FLAT TIRE ON THE PICKUP EE PICKED UP THE TIRE AND TWISTED AROUND TO THROW THE TIRE INTO THE BACK OF THE PICKUP. THIS MOTION RESULTED IN A STRAIN TO THE LOWER BACK.

1986 · 1 incident

February 6, 1986 WY · Metal/Non-Metal warehouseman, bagger, palletizer/stacker, store keeper, packager, fabricator, cleaning plant operator POWERED HAULAGE
Wyo-Ben, Inc · Caught in, under or between a moving and a stationary object

THE MAN WAS STA3DING IN THE MIDDLE OF THE PAD WHERE FORKLIFTS BACKUP.THE FORKLIFT OPERATOR LOOKED OVER HIS RIGHT SHOULDER WHEN THE LEFT STEERING WHEEL RAN OVER RIGHT FOOT & ANKLE.